Igniter for gas burners



Feb. 7, 1939. R. l.. swARTz IGNITER FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Sept. 4, 1.956

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 2,146,660 IGNTTER Foa GAS BUnNEns Richey L. Swartz, Canton, h10, assigner o! one- 1 half to Kenneth B. Cope, Canton, Ohio Application September 4, 1936, Serial No. 93,456

2 Claims.

The invention relates to igniters for gas burners and more particularly an electrical igniter for burners consuming manufactured ornatural gas or any hydrocarbon vapor.

5 An object of the invention/is to provide a novel form of electrical igniter which is automatically operated by the opening of the burner valve to produce a spark to ignite the gas escaping from the burner.

l0 A further object is to provide a device of this character inl which the spark is produced to ignite the gasescaping from a pilot burner which is automatically turned on before the main burner and automatically shut oi as the main burner is i5 ignited therefrom.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character in which the circuit to the electrical igniter is automatically broken immediately upon the lighting of the pilot burner.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be hereinafter referred to, may be attained by constructing the invention in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a burner provided with the improved igniter system; and

Fig. 2, a plan sectional view through the valve which controls the pilot burner and main burner.

v Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

A substantially horizontal gas burner of any usual and ordinary construction, such as ordinarily used upon gas ranges and the like arranged to direct a substantially vertical flame, is indicated generally at Ill, having the usual mixing cham` ber II located between the burner and the gas supply pipe I2 which communicates with the mixing chamber of the burner through the gas valve indicated generally at I3 and pipe I4.

A pilot pipe I5 leads from the valve I3 to a pilot burner I6 located adjacent to the main burner I0 and the electrical igniter indicated generally at I'I is spaced from the main burner and associated with said pilot burner and arranged to ignite the gas escaping therefrom so as to produce a pilot flame across the main burner I0 to light the same when the valve is moved to open position.

The valve includes a casing I8 communicating with the gas supply pipe I2 and provided with the threaded nipples I9 and 20 to which are connected the gas pipe I4 leading to the mixing chamber I I of the main burner, and the pilot pipe I5 respectively.

The rotary valve I3 is mounted within the valve casing I8 and provided with the transversely disposed passage 2I communicating with the longitudinal passage 22 which communicates with the gas supply pipe I2. The usual handle 23 is 5 provided upon the rotary valve I3 for rotating the same in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing so as to cause the transverse passage 2| therein to first register with the port 24 communicating with the pilot pipe I5 and later with 10 the port 25 communicating with the pipe I4 leading to the main burner.

These parts are so shaped and arranged that the passage 2| will be in partial communication with the port 25 before it has moved entirely out 15 of communication with the port 24.

A source of electrical energy is indicated at 26 and a wire 21 leads from one side thereof to the movable contact 28 which is carried upon and insulated from the rotary valve I3 as by the in- 80 sulation 29.

A wire 30 connects the other side of said source .of electrical energy to the spark coil 3|, which is connected as by the wire 32 with a iixed contact point 33 which may be mounted upon and insu- 26 lated from any suitable stationary portion of the structure, in the path of the movable contact 23,

as by the insulation 34.

The spark coil 3| is also connected by a wire 36 with a lead 31 connected to one point 38 of 30 the spark plug I1, the other point 39 thereof being insulated therefrom in usual and well known manner as idicated at 40 and connected through the lead 4I and wire 42 to the other side of the spark coil 3|. 85

In the operation of the device to light the burner Ill, the valve handle -23 is turned in the direction of the arrows shown in the drawing, moving the transverse passage 2I of the valve into communication with the port 24 leading to 40 the pilot burner' and thus admitting gas to the pilot burner.

At thesame time the movable contact 28 will make contact with the xed contact 33, closing the circuit through the sparkcoil to the spark 46 plug and producing a spark across the gap between the points thereof so as to ignite the pilot burner IIS.v Continued movement of the valve handle 23 in this direction breaks the contact at 28-33 and brings the transverse passage 2l of l0 the valve into partial communication with the port 25 leading to the main burner before communication to the port 24'is entirely broken.

, 'Ihus the gas escaping from the main burner will be ignited by the flame from the pilot burner Il I6 and further movement of the valve handle in this direction shuts 01T the pilot burner so that the points of the spark plug are no further subjected to the llame while the flame from the main burner l0 may be turned up to any desired height.

From the above it will thus be seen that the pilot burner is automatically lighted as the valve -is moved toward open position and automatically shut off as the main burner is lighted, and the circuit to the spark plug is automatically broken immediately after the pilot burner is lighted so that there is no Waste of gas or electrical energy and the points of the spark plug are not subjected to the continued heat of the flame.

I claim: 1

1. In combination with a substantially horizontal main gas burner for a stove arranged to direct a llame in a substantially vertical direction, a substantially horizontal pilot burner spaced from one side of the main burner and disposed toward the main burner so as to direct a flame across the main burner, and an electric igniter for the pilot burner spaced from one side of the main'burner so as not to be subjected to the heat of the flame of the main burner.

2. In combination with a. substantially horizontal main gas burner for a stove arranged to direct a flame in a substantially vertical direction, a substantially horizontal pilot burner spaced from one side of the main burner and disposed toward the main burner so as to direct a flame across the main burner and an electric igniter for the pilot burner spaced from one side of the main burner so as not to be subjected to the heat of the flame of the main burner, and means for momentarily operating the electric igniter and simultaneously admitting gas to the pilot burner. 

